Provincial Grand Lodge of East Lancashire
Archived News from Rochdale District

Archived Stories - Sepember - December 2007

Christmas in the Rochdale District

OUR NEW HOME

With the closure of St Edmunds church ,the District were invited to hold the annual Nine Lessons and Carols service at St Mary’s in the Baum Church in Rochdale.
The service was well attended and we were honoured to have the Mayor and Mayoress of Rochdale present and our APGM and Mrs Woodward, and many brethren and their ladies from the Rochdale District to celebrate this festival.
The service was conducted by the Rev Ian Kay assisted by the Rev Harry Edwards (St Chad’s Lodge 1129) .The lessons were read by the brethren of the Rochdale lodges.
We were made really welcome and hope that this new home will be a lasting one.
To all the Rochdale brethren abroad, who read this article, we wish you and your families a belated happy Christmas.

GIFTS TO CHILDREN in the ROCHDALE

We again supported the Rochdale Corps of the Salvation Army in their mission to present children in need with toys at Christmas.
The Mayor and Mayoress of Rochdale with our APGM and Mrs Woodward and our District Chairman and Mrs Kirkbride and our District Charity Steward and Mrs Greenhalgh attended the afternoon Carol Service at the Rochdale Corps.
We were made really welcome and shared in a packed celebration of Christmas cheer.
In addition to toys donated by the brethren into the collection box at Richard St, the District Social Committee provided substantial funds so that enough toys could be bought in time for handing over to the Salvation Army to use where they saw the need.
We have received a letter of thanks from the Salvation Army which has been forwarded to all the Lodges.
Thank you and well done Rochdale Freemasons

WRVS FOOD  COLLECTION

From September 2007, Brethren have been putting tins into the collection box placed in the masonic hall at Richard St.
A considerable amount of food has been delivered to the WRVS in time for them to pack it and distribute it to people in our community who are in real need.
This is the second year we have done this and the thanks of all who will have been touched by the generosity of Rochdale Freemasons have been expressed to us by the WRVS.

SPRINGHILL HOSPICE

On Thursday 20th December the Rochdale District team Representing the Freemasons of Rochdale went to Springhill  Hospice to do two things.

  • First to hand over a cheque for £2,886 to the Hospice this was from the annual grant from the Grand Charity via ELMC.
  • Secondly to distribute hampers to people from the Hospice who would be at Home alone this Christmas.

All together 14 impressive hampers were donated and distributed (last year it was 7). We know from the very kind letters we receive back, just how important these gifts are to the recipients and we wish them joy and comfort in the knowledge that Rochdale Freemasons care.

Eric Kirkbride, Rochdale District Chairman

The end of an era for St Edmund’s Church

Sunday 25th November 2007, the end of an era for St Edmunds Church, Falinge, Rochdale  120 masons and their wives joined the congregation for the final service of  Evensong and the closure of the church. The Curate, The Rev Ian Kay, conducted the service. The Rev David Finney the retired vicar of St Edmund’s, the Archdeacon of Rochdale and the Vicar of St Chad's the Rochdale Parish Church were also present. on this sad occasion.

St Edmund’ Church was built by Albert Hudson Ryods in 1874 in memory of his parents.
Albert Hudson Ryods was the Deputy Provincial Grand Master for the Province of East Lancashire from 1856 to 1866.
In 1857 he was appointed Deputy Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Worcestershire, prior to becoming the Provincial Grand Master from 1866 until 1878.
Details of the church are described more fully in a interesting paper by WBro Baxter to the Manchester Association fro Masonic research delivered in 1933.
Albert Ryods spent between £20,000 and £30,000 on the building and was clearly determined that it would bear evidence of his Masonic convictions in all its features.
This was a considerable sum, as the average cost to built a church at that time was approximately £5000.
Raised on a roughly hewn plinth, the dimensions of the church are proportional to those of King Solomon’s Temple. It’s length being three times its breadth and its height being one and a half times its breadth.
External buttresses support the heavily timbered roof and the access to the tower is by a winding staircase.
The East Window, situated in the Ryods Chapel, is a marvellous example of Masonic symbolism in its architectural design, and is appropriately filled with the pictorial representations of the designing, building and decoration of the temple in Jerusalem.

In the centre light the three Grand Masters are shown with the plan of the Temple, and the figure of Hiram Abif is depicted wearind a Master Mason’s Cap. The light to the right shows the workmen busy with the masonry, whilst the left hand light shows the priests and populous celebrating the completion of the building.
The central pentagons of each pentalpha are, from right to left the emblems of the Craft, the Ancient and Accepted Rite and the United Religious, Military and Masonic Orders.
The font and lectern were donated by Albert Hudson’s sons, Clement and Edmund, and are adorned with Masonic symbols.
It is sad to note that part of this beautiful edifice was ravaged by dry rot.

In 2006 the Rev. David Finney, vicar at both St Edmund’s and St Mary’s, was informed by the diocese that St Edmund’s would close. With its location and a dwindling congregation its potential had come to an end. Today, the future of the church remains uncertain, but being a Grade Two listed building, it cannot be demolished.

Brethren - Don't Lose this One!

Wednesday 5th December saw a piece of Lodge history restored when WBro Tom Rawnsley PProvGSuptWks and his wife Lillian celebrating their Diamond Wedding anniversary (60 years) donated a bespoke Banner to the Lodge of Harmony No 298. The last Banners - a pair - were presented in 1870, but were sadly ‘lost' about 1918.

 

WBro Ramsey and Lillian in the Procession

 

 

In a super ceremony our APGM WBro Harold Woodward PSGD accompanied by the Provincial DC WBro Norman Cope assisted by Dep ProvDC WBro Nigel Pickering and the Provincial Grand Chaplain, WBro Jack Thompson dedicated the new banner and entrusted it to the Worshipful Master WBro Alan Stancliffe.

 

The Procession around the Lodge

 

A Packed House

 

The Provincial Delegation

With the Lodge closed down, the ladies and non-Masonic friends were invited into the lodge room. What a spectacular sight this was with standing room only at the back. In addressing the gathering our APGM paid tribute too the enduring commitment of Tom and Lillian, and Lillian although in a wheelchair joined the procession around the lodge room with the Banner so that all might see its beauty.

At the social board later 140 people were present to enjoy a super meal and high quality entertainment.

The Prestonian Lecture 2007

On Tuesday 20th  November 2007 St Lukes with Old Masonians Lodge No 4294 had the rare honour of hosting the Prestonian Lecture for 2007. The Lecturer was delivered by WBro Granville Angell PProvSGW Lord of Cannock.

There were many invited guests to the Lodge and In a little over one and a half hours WBro Angell captured an enthralled his audience with the lecture entitled: -

  ‘ The Victoria Cross Freemasons' Band of Brothers'

which was presented both in memory, and as a tribute to the late WBro Alan Corns who had contributed much to the research for the paper.

At the end of the lecture the brethren stood and gave a spontaneous standing ovation to WBro Angell. WBro Angel thanked the brethren, sincerely and further responded by saying that although this was the 86th time he had had the privilege of giving the lecture, this was the first time such an ovation had been given in an English Lodge.

WBro Granville Angell PProvSGW picture with APGM WBro H Woodward PSGD

District Hosted Meeting – 2007

This year the Lodge of Benevolence No 226 was the host to the Annual Visit to the Rochdale District. On this occasion the purpose was to support the Lodge as well as celebrate 210 years of history since its first meeting in Blackburn in November 1797.

'Checking on my homework'

Each of the 15 lodges in the District were represented, and there were numerous junior brethren present, many of whom had been initiated, passed and raised during the last year.

The Deputy PGM VWBro Dr Nigel Bramley-Haworth accompanied by our APGM WBro Harold Woodward together with the Provincial Wardens of the year honoured us with their presence.

The visiting Official Team

A feast of ritual followed with the senior member of the lodge WBro Lionel Taylor presenting a short history of eminent Past Masters of No 226. Also, one of the youngest members Bro Joe Galvin delivered a full explanation of the First Degree Tracing Board.

Bro Joe Galvin with visiting brethren

There was rapturous applause for the delivery by this young Freemason, and in a moving moment, the Deputy PGM left the WM's Chair and went down into the lodge to congratulate Bro Galvin on a wonderful meaningful and delivery of a difficult piece of ritual.

At the Festive Board there was a real buzz about the room and a most enjoyable atmosphere prevailed. Many congratulations to all in the Lodge of Benevolence No 226 for their hard work organising the meeting, which was an event to be truly proud.

Governor General, The Lord Walker of Aldringham  invites

Liberty Lodge by tradition invite several Chelsea Pensioners to the Annual St Georges Night celebrations they hold at Richard Street on St Georges day each year in April.
We had corresponded with one of the Chelsea Pensioners, WO Eric Bernstien for 2 years, and at his visit to Rochdale he informed us that he had put our names forward as guests to attend the ‘Founders Day’ parade at the Royal Chelsea Hospital.
To our surprise at the end of April an embosses invitation from The Governor General, The Lord Walker of Aldringham dropped through our letter box inviting us to the Founders Day Parade on Thursday, 7th June 10.30 prompt. The guest of honour at the parade was to be Her Majesty Queen Margerethe II of Denmark.


We travelled to London on the Wednesday for an overnight stay in the Regency Hotel, and the following morning we were met by WO Eric Bernstein at the Chelsea Gate.
Eric conducted us on a tour of the hospital where we were able to present on behalf of the Liberty Lodge St Georges committee a cheque for the sum of £500 to the Chelsea Pensioners Appeal.
We made our way to the parade ground where we joined the other 1000 guests and took our seats, there were many distinguished guest including the King and Queen of Greece and Baroness Thatcher.
The parade commenced at the stroke of 10-30. There were 303 Chelsea Pensioners on parade with ages ranging from 56 to 102, the average age being 82.
After the parade, Queen Margerethe II of Denmark reviewed the Pensioners.
A Garden Party followed the parade but Eric insisted that we joined him at his club for lunch.
Returning to the hospital we took several photographs and purchased some mementoes from the hospital shop.
We were extremely honoured by the invitation and it was a day that will never be forgotten

Article by Bro Victor Blomeley. Senior Deacon, Liberty Lodge No 5573.

On a note of sadness we received news the WO Eric Bernstien
had passed away some six weeks after the parade.